Robbery Suspect Shot and Killed at Rio in Las Vegas

A man suspected to have been involved in multiple casino armed robberies was shot dead in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino early Sunday morning. The police believe that the man took part in at least four casino robberies in Las Vegas.

The man had been under surveillance by undercover Metro detectives, who were following the suspect for several days.

Their Investigation led them to the Rio at about 5 a.m. on December 7th where the fatal shooting happened. Detectives from the Repeat Offenders Program had a plan to take the suspect into custody, but things went in a different direction when the suspect ignored officers' commands.

The robber put up resistance and when a stun gun had no effect, the suspect reached toward his waist. Police opened fire near the guest elevators and one of the detectives shot the man. No one else was injured during the shooting. Once the suspect was down, police checked him and found a gun, and also discovered that their attempt to apprehend the man proved fatal. The dead man’s identity has yet to be revealed by the Clark County Coroner’s office.

Detectives had been investigating numerous casino robberies during the past several months. All the robberies had a similar M.O. that involved a white male who was armed with a gun demanding money while claiming to be in possession of explosives.

Metro’s armor section and the police department’s bomb squad checked the Rio thoroughly and looked for explosives, but found none. Captain Matt McCarthy of the Office of Internal Oversight said such investigations are very complex and that more details will be revealed at a later date.

A spokesman for Caesars Entertainment that owns the Rio refused to comment on the incident, but business at the hotel continued as usual.

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